See how to make DIY candy cane soap! This easy peppermint soap recipe is made with melt and pour soap and essential oils. The Christmas soap looks very festive and is a great homemade holiday gift idea.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.Learn more
☰ Table of Contents
DIY Peppermint Soap – Homemade Christmas Soap Recipe
One ofmy favourite things about coming up with beginners goat milk soap recipes isthat everyone can make this Christmas soap. You don’t have to be an expert athomemade soap making to create melt and pour holiday soaps.
Beforetrying this homemade soap recipe, read my tips, so you get a great looking DIYpeppermint soap with peppermint essential oil. Making peppermint Christmas soapis easy, but you need a little patience for this candy cane melt and pour soaprecipe.
And formore DIY Christmas soap ideas and winter soap recipes, have a look at my moisturizing soap and this cute gingerbread soaprecipe.
Materials for DIY Christmas soap
Thiseasy peppermint soap is made up of affordable ingredients that you can buyonline or in craft stores. Here is what need for this easy beginner’s soaprecipe:
- goat milk melt and pour soap base – One of my favourite melt and pour soap bases. It’s has a nice latherand is very hydrating.
- clear melt and pour soap base – I used a clear soap base to make the red layers because a clear basecreates brighter colours. A white soap base works, too, but the layers willappear more muted.
- red mica – I chose mice because it gives astrong and stable colour without bleeding or fading.
- spritz bottle andrubbing alcohol – Rubbing alcohol in a small spritzbottle is needed to dissolve bubbles and ensure that layers stick together.
- peppermint essential oil – Of course, weneed peppermint essential oil to give the soap a natural mint fragrance.
For thebest Christmas hand soap use the following supplies and tools:
- square silicone soap mould – This silicone mould allows to makeChristmas soap on a small scale. The amounts in this homemade soap recipe areintended for this specific mould. If you use a different mould your soap maylook differently.
- digital scale – I recommend using a digital scale to measure the ingredients precisely.
- cutting board and knife – A cutting board and sharp kitchen knife are useful for chopping upthe melt and pour soap.
- measuring cups – Heatproof measuring cups are perfect for melting and pouring our meltand pour base. If you have, use two measuring cups so you don’t have to washthe mould after each pour.
- whisk– A balloon whisk helps to mix and combine the ingredients.
- laser thermometer – To achieve clean and straight layers, a thermometer has to be used topour at the correct temperature.
How to make the candy cane soap – Holiday soap tutorial
A littlepatience is required for this candy cane holiday soap. Each layer has to coolcompletely before continuing with the next pour. Luckily, melt and pour soapsets quickly and it took me about 3.5 hours to make the soap from start offinish.
Here’show to make candy cane soap at home:
Melt the soap base
- Cut soap base.Cut 3.5 oz / 100 g clear melt and pour soap into small cubes. The smaller thecubes are, the quicker the soap melts, and you also reduce the risk of burntsoap.
- Melt soap.Transfer the soap cubes into a large, microwave-safe measuring cup. Melt in themicrowave set to 50% power in 30-second bursts, stirring well after eachinterval.
- Add essential oil and colourant. Once the soap is completely melted, stir in 5drops peppermint essential oil and 1/8 tsp red mica. Give the soap a good stir.
Layer the candy cane soap
Createthe red and white candy cane layers isn’t difficult but be sure to read mytips below to achieve the best results.
- Prep work.Put the soap mould on a cutting tray so it can be moved easily. Spray the mouldwith alcohol.
- Pour soap.Pour the melted soap into the mould cavity and spritz with alcohol to dissolvebubbles.
- Chill soap.Carefully transfer into the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the soap hasset. You can tell that the soap is ready when the centre of the soap feelssolid.
- Create more layers. Repeat this process with alternating layers of white and red soap base.I used 3.5 oz / 100 g of soap for each layer.
- Refrigerate the soap after every pour. If you follow the recipe, you should end upwith 6 layers, 3 red and 3 white. Tip: To ensure that the red layershave all the same colour, add the exact amount of red mica to each pour.
I havecreated a graphic so you can see each layer:
Tips for layering melt and pour soap
Usingthe right techniques, you will have a beautiful melt and pour soap with crisplayers in no time.
- Let each layer harden. Wait until the bottom layer is completely cool and solid before addinganother layer. I put the soap in the fridge for 25 to 30 minutes so it hardensquickly.
- Pour at the right temperature. Let the melted soap cool to 122 – 120°F/ 50 –48°C before pouring. If the soap is too hot, it will melt the layer below.
- Spritz with alcohol. Lightly spray rubbing alcohol immediately before each pour,which helps the two layers stick together. If the alcohol is spritzed tooearly, it can evaporate. You want the soap layer covered with alcohol, but notcompletely soaked.
- Aquick spritz after pouring dissolves air bubbles.
- Beforecutting the soap into bars wait until the soap block has fully cooled.
Withoutadding a decoration, the peppermint soap will look like this: 6 beautiful redand white layers, naturally scented with peppermint essential oil.
Candy cane soap decorations
Sometimesmelt and pour soap recipes can look a bit bland. To add visual interest, Idecorated the this Christmas melt and pour soap recipe with small soap piecesthat look like chopped candy cane. Adding a decoration is optional. You caneither do it before or while you make the candy cane soap.
Here ishow you do it:
- Make the white layer. To make the Christmas soap decorations pour 0.75 oz / 25 g white soapbase and pour into a silicone soap mould (I used this soap mould). Spritz with rubbing alcohol andlet cool completely.
- Create the red layer. Then melt a 0.75 oz / 25 g clear soap base, add small amount red mica,and pour over the white layer. Spritz with alcohol and allow to harden
- Cut soap into cubes. Once both layers have set, remove the soap bar from the mould and cutinto small cubes. Set aside until ready to use.
- Decorate the soap. Wait for 1 to 2 minutes after you have poured the last layer (white).Then top with the soap decorations and gently press into the white soap layer.
- Refrigerateuntil hard.
Unmould and cut peppermint soap bars
- Tounmould the soap, first pull away the sides of the mould to break the airlock.Then push out the soap from the bottom.
- Usinga soap cutter or sharp knife, cut the melt and pour block into3 to 4 peppermint soap bars. Since the bars are rather large, I cut away alittle on the sides, but you don’t have to do this.
Tip: Use a sharp knife with a smoothblade to cut this homemade mint soap recipe. A dull knife can lead the layersto separate.
Andthere you have it, beautiful homemade peppermint soap!
Can melt and pour soap be used right away?
Yes, youcan use melt and pour soap right away. Unlike cold process, melt and pour soapalready has undergone saponification and doesn’t need time to cure.
Soap gifts for Christmas
Becausethis melt and pour Christmas soap recipe is so pretty, I didn’t want to hidethe soap behind wrapping paper. Instead, I wrapped in plastic wrap/clingfilmand then in cellophane. I attached one of our free printable candy cane gift tags with a pretty ribbon.
Shelf life and storage of homemade candy cane soap
Wrap each candy cane soap bar in plastic wrap/clingfilm to avoid glycerin dew and store in an airtight container. The soap can be kept for 1 year.
More soap recipes
If you like this homemade Christmas soap, you might like some of my other soap recipes:
- lavender lemon honey soap
- eucalyptus soap
- sea salt soap
- citrus soap
- moisturizing soap
- pumpkin spice soap
DIY Peppermint Soap – Homemade Christmas Soap Recipe
Yield: 4 candy cane soap bars
Prep Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
See how to make DIY candy cane soap! This easy peppermint soap recipe is made with melt and pour soap and essential oils. The Christmas soap looks very festive and is a great homemade holiday gift idea.
Materials
Instructions
- Cut 3.5 oz / 100 g clear melt and pour soap into small cubes. The smaller the cubes are, the quicker the soap melts.
- Transfer the soap cubes into a large, microwave-safe measuring cup. Melt in the microwave set to 50% power in 30-second bursts, stirring well after each interval.
- Once the soap is completely melted, stir in 5 drops peppermint essential oil and 1/8 tsp red mica. Give the soap a good stir.
- Put the soap mould on a cutting tray so it can be moved easily. Spray the mould with alcohol.
- Pour the melted soap into the mould cavity and spritz with alcohol to dissolve bubbles.
- Carefully transfer into the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the soap has set. You can tell that the soap is ready when the centre of the soap feels solid.
- Repeat this process with alternating layers of white and red soap base. I used 3.5 oz / 100 g of soap for every layer. If you follow the recipe, you should end up with 6 layers, 3 red and 3 white.
- To unmould the soap, first pull away the sides of the mould to break the airlock. Then push out the soap from the bottom.
- Using a soap cutter or sharp knife, cut the melt and pour block into 3 to 4 peppermint soap bars.
Candy cane soap decorations
- To make the Christmas soap decorations pour melt 0.75 oz / 25 g white soap base and pour into a silicone soap mould (I used this mould). Spritz with rubbing alcohol and let cool completely.
- Melt a 0.75 oz / 25 g clear soap base, add small amount red mica, and pour over the white layer. Spritz with alcohol and allow to harden
- Once both layers have set, remove the soap bar from the mould and cut into small cubes. Set aside until ready to use.
- Wait for 1 to 2 minutes after you have poured the last layer (white). Then top with the soap decorations and gently press into the white soap layer.
- Refrigerate until hard.
Notes
Shelf life and storage
Wrap each candy cane soap bar in plastic wrap/clingfilm to avoid glycerin dew and store in an airtight container. The soap can be kept for 1 year.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
